Financing

Colorado Resources

Beginner Farmer Loan ProgramThe Colorado Agricultural Development Authority (CADA) is an independent public body established by statute in 1981. Its mission is to encourage the investment of private capital in the agricultural sector through the use of public financing for the purpose of making low-interest loans available to agricultural producers for specified uses.

Rocky Mountain MicroFinance InstituteRocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute, is a non-profit organization serving the needs of Community Entrepreneurs to foster growth within Denver communities. RMMFI's brand of microfinance combines affordable and accessible business development services and flexible microloans in an effort to support an entrepreneur in creating economic self-sufficiency through business ownership.http://www.rmmfi.org/

Other Resources

Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and CommunitiesThis ATTRA publication is a very helpful resource guide to figuring out which federal grant and loan programs can help finance various innovative agricultural enterprises.http://attra.ncat.org/guide/

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)The primary objective of the VAPG program is to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of this program.http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/bcp_vapg.html

Western SARE GrantsSARE grants are used to increase knowledge about sustainable agricultural practices and to help farmers and ranchers adopt those practices. The Western SARE program administers grants in several categories that help it achieve those aims.http://westernsare.org

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)NIFA has many funding opportunities, including the Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities - National AgrAbility Project, which provides funds to increase the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, farm workers or farm family members with disabilities and their farms experience success.http://www.csrees.usda.gov/

Farm Service Agency Farm Loan ProgramAre you a farmer who is temporarily unable to obtain private, commercial credit? This USDA/FSA program can help! Available loan programs include: Direct Farm Ownership, Beginning Farmer Down Payment Farm Ownership, and Direct Operating.

Loans for Socially Disadvantaged PeopleThe Farm Service Agency (FSA) can make and guarantee loans to socially disadvantaged applicants to buy and operate family-size farms and ranches. A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. For purposes of this program, socially disadvantaged groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.http://attra.ncat.org/guide/a_m/socially_disadvantaged.html

Community Development Venture Capital AllianceThe CDVCA is the network for the rapidly growing field of community development venture capital (CDVC) investing. CDVC funds provide equity capital to businesses in underinvested markets, seeking market-rate financial returns, as well as the creation of good jobs, wealth, and entrepreneurial capacity.http://www.cdvca.org/

National Association of Seed and Venture FundsThe NASVF is an organization of innovation capital leaders: private, public and non-profit organizations committed to building their local economies by investing in local entrepreneurs.http://www.nasvf.org/